This poignancy melody is also known as Dark Isle, Dr Mackays Farewell To Creagorry,
Dr. McInnes’s Farewell To South Uist.

The song, Dark Island, was written by David Silver, and the tune was written
by Iain MacLachlan, an accordionist who lived in Benbacula island.
This was created for a BBC Thriller called the Dark Island, in 1963.
The show was filmed mainly in South Uist, but was about Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides.

DARK ISLAND LYRICS

The song has since become a classic and there are more than 50 versions in Scotland,
including those of Mike Oldfield, Ann-Lorne Gillis, Peter Morrison and Kenneth.

Away to the westward, I’m longing to be
Where the beauties of heaven’ unfold by the sea
Where the sweet purple heather’ blooins fragrant and free
On a hill-top, high above the Dark Island
Oh Isle of my childhood I’in dreaming of thee
As the steamer leaves Oban, and passes Tiree
Soon I’ll capture the magic, that lingers for me
When I’m back, once more upon, the Dark Island

So gentle the sea breeze’ that ripples the bay
Where the stream joins the ocean,
and young children play
On a strand of pure silver,
I’ll welcome each day
And I’ll roam forever more, the Dark Island
Oh Isle of my childhood I’in dreaming of thee
As the steamer leaves Oban, and passes Tiree
Soon I’ll capture the magic, that lingers for me
When I’m back, once more upon, the Dark Island

True gem of the hebrides, bathed in the light
Like a midsummer dawning, that follows the night
How I long for the cry, of the seagulls in flight
As they circle high above’ the Dark Island
Oh Isle of my childhood I’in dreaming of thee
As the steamer leaves Oban, and passes Tiree
Soon I’ll capture the magic, that lingers for me
When I’m back, once more upon, the Dark Island